Blown Headgasket

[sburg185]

I have a 2000 Subaru Outback Wagon with 105,000 miles. I blew a head gasket and had it fixed at the dealer for $1,100.00. Is this common? My old 1986 Subaru never had a headgasket problem and I drove it 205,000 miles!

 

I E-mailed the national Subaru people and they considered my milage to be "excessive" and would not rebate be any $$$$$.

 

Any ideas where I can get some $$$$$ back on this problem?

 

Thanks for your time!!

 

Steve B.

[lmdew]

search the board, lots of info on the 2.5 headgaskets

[brus brother]

Was it the driver's side head gasket? There was a volunary program where this vintage had an extended 8 year/100,000 mile warranty if you allowed SOA to install some stop leak into the coolant and prevent the external head leak. You should have received notification of this a year or so ago. I would suggest that you ask SOA to share the cost as 5,000 miles out of warrant would indicate that the leak was already there and just hadn't quite manifested itself as of 100,000

[stevetone]

I have a 2000 Subaru Outback Wagon with 105,000 miles. I blew a head gasket and had it fixed at the dealer for $1,100.00. Is this common? My old 1986 Subaru never had a headgasket problem and I drove it 205,000 miles!

 

I E-mailed the national Subaru people and they considered my mileage to be "excessive" and would not rebate be any $$$$$.

 

Any ideas where I can get some $$$$$ back on this problem?

 

Thanks for your time!!

 

Steve B.

 

Ok, I can't hold it any longer (bring on the "I got screwed by SOA" flames). Why do some people think that a company should compensate them for a problem that occurs well past the warranty period? 105,000 miles is a lot of miles, and a lot of things could happen during those 5 years of use, some of which can and do shorten the lifespan of mechanical components. The manufacturer has no control of how a vehicle is driven or maintained, and must take this into account when they develop their warranty policy. Even if the car was meticulously maintained, the manufacturer must hold to the specified warranty period.

 

"But my 1963 VW Beetle had 2 million miles on it and never had any mechanical problems. Now my Ford Escort is dead at 45,000 miles -- I'll sue!"

 

When someone purchases an automobile the warranty information is freely available. If one wanted to buy a car that was covered for 100,000 miles there are plenty to choose from (still short of your 105,000). I don't think there are any "lifetime" automobile warranties out there to be had...

[outback_97]

I'm also wondering if the "stop-leak" coolant conditioner was added by a dealer. I think that's pretty important to the question at hand.

 

If it was, I'd ask SOA nicely (in writing) to share some of the cost as a customer good will thing, after explaining to them that I have been a very loyal customer and have convinced several friends and family members to buy Subarus (all of which is true in my case). Never hurts to ask... although it sounds like you have already done this via email. My $.02: Remember the exception that they made for you if they do, and don't begrudge them if they don't make an exception.

 

Sometimes corporations will bend the rules of the warranty period or their policies depending on how the request is made and on the circumstances. The company I work for occasionally goes above and beyond what we are required to do and will assist customers with free product, as a "good will" gesture. But as stevetone mentioned they certainly don't have to... I agree with him on that.

 

Steve

 

EDIT: Here's a link with HG info, yes HG problems have happened. Your engine is a Phase 2 2.5l... scroll to the bottom of the page for a link to a discussion re: the stop leak additive.

http://users.sisna.com/ignatius/subaru/headgasket.html

[brus brother]

Flames a comin'. The issue is that there is a 100K warranty issued when SOA realized that they had produced a defective product. The fact that SOA is stalling everyone with their stop gap measure until the car passes the 100K mark does not bode well for those who expect the same performance from the newer subes as in the past (and I'm not talking about the 96-99 vintage of internal HG leaks).

If owners were made acutely aware of the current external HG faults, they might be more attentive to early signs and symptoms (smell of leaking glycol, small drips) and not be sucker punched by the final failure some 5,000 miles past the warranty. Unfortunately, most car owners barely know where to fill the gas, so tuff luck huh?!

[stevetone]

... and not be sucker punched by the final failure some 5,000 miles past the warranty...

 

Just curious -- at what mileage past the stated warranty do you think should claims be covered? 10,000 miles past? 20,000 miles? Lifetime?

[brus brother]

Just curious -- at what point of continued faulty design should customers become aware that the manufacturer doesn't give a hoot??

How long does SOA want to retain a valued customer? 1 car? 2 cars? Lifetime?

Just curious -- at what mileage past the stated warranty do you think should claims be covered? 10,000 miles past? 20,000 miles? Lifetime?

[Setright]

(Whoa! Better stay out of this one, might get caught in the crossfire!)

[stevetone]

Just curious -- at what point of continued faulty design should customers become aware that the manufacturer doesn't give a hoot??

Your non-answer suggests that you have selected the "Lifetime Warranty" option. Should all manufacturers be subject to the same lifetime warranty?

 

Subaru does indeed give a hoot. They have a written policy that they will repair any defect up to the time that their warranty expires. That is exactly what I would expect from any manufacturer.

 

What percentage of Subarus have failed due to this "faulty design"? I'm not arguing that it is or isn't a faulty design (because frankly I do not know), but evidence suggests that if it were an overwhelming problem, Subaru's sales volume would be negatively affected.

[stevetone]

...How long does SOA want to retain a valued customer? 1 car? 2 cars? Lifetime?

 

I guess that is their choice -- that is what capitalism is all about.

 

Are you suggesting that the government (ugh) should dictate the operations of a private company?

[cookie]

My car was out of warranty when I bought it. After checking the car out myself I found an external leak. I probably would not have spotted the leak except for advice from this board, I would have assumed a weeping hose or such as the leak was so small. I paid to have a head gasket job done and Subaru refunded the money when they did the goop campaign. Free goop too.